In the final installment of CSA Online’s PizzaRev series, we’ll explore the importance of choosing franchisees with a particularly discerning eye, and the process by which franchisors evaluate potential expansion markets.

18 | 8 Fine Men's Salons has leased its first New Jersey locations in Somerset and Essex Counties. Winick Realty Group New Jersey broker Alison Cohen, the exclusive broker for 18|8 Fine Men's Salons in New Jersey, represented the salon in both transactions.

CSA decided, for the first time in our near-90-year history, to shine the spotlight on the retail brokerage community by naming 15 “power brokers” – real estate heavyweights who have made a real mark on the retail chains they serve and the markets they operate in.

For the first time in eight decades of publishing, Chain Store Age has compiled a list of the nation’s top retail real estate brokers, ranking them based on number of retail transactions in 2013, dollar amount of those transactions and, just as importantly, reputation in the industry. From hundreds of nominations collected from retailers and brokerage houses earlier in the summer, we have selected 15 as our debut “power brokers” list.

For the first time in eight decades of publishing, Chain Store Age has compiled a list of the nation’s top retail real estate brokers, ranking them based on number of retail transactions in 2013, dollar amount of those transactions and, just as importantly, reputation in the industry. From hundreds of nominations collected from retailers and brokerage houses earlier in the summer, we have selected 15 as our debut “power brokers” list.

“It would be impossible to give someone in our business the power broker moniker unless they had demonstrated a high level of production, consistently over the long term — in both good and bad markets. It sounds easy, but it isn’t.”
— John Cumbelich, principal with San Francisco Bay Area-based X Team partner John Cumbelich & Associates

“It would be impossible to give someone in our business the power broker moniker unless they had demonstrated a high level of production, consistently over the long term — in both good and bad markets. It sounds easy, but it isn’t.”
— John Cumbelich, principal with San Francisco Bay Area-based X Team partner John Cumbelich & Associates

Chain Store Age magazine is accepting nominations for its first-ever “POWER BROKERS” list, which recognizes retail real estate brokers who have garnered a top-notch reputation based on tenant rosters, sales and leasing transactions in terms of dollar value and square footage, as well as for demonstrating a positive attitude, high energy, proven results, and in-depth knowledge of the industry.

Studio Movie Grill has acquired two leases for a 51,935-sq.-ft. building at the Town Center of Colleyville in Colleyville, Texas, according to Venture Commercial, the broker on the lease sale and assignment transaction.

PizzaRev opened a concept test kitchen in Los Angeles in April 2012. Today, it has nine company-owned restaurants with 19 more company and franchised stores on the way.

“This isn’t just about our growth, but also growth in the fast casual pizza space,” said Irv Zuckerman, co-CEO of PizzaRev. In fact, the fast casual pizza space is much bigger than it was two years ago when PizzaRev opened its first concept. New concepts from well-known brands, such as Chipotle’s Pizzeria Locale, have opened up within the last year.

IKEA plans to break ground on a three-level, 380,000-sq.-ft. building in midtown St. Louis this summer, according to Pace Properties, the broker selected by IKEA to help facilitate the chain’s expansion into the St. Louis market.

Kroger has acquired 12 acres at the Hampton Roads Crossing mixed-use project in Suffolk, Va., according to Divaris Real Estate (www.divaris.com), the broker that represented the seller, Terry/Peterson Investment Thirty, in the transaction.

Kroger has acquired 12 acres at the Hampton Roads Crossing mixed-use project in Suffolk, Va., according to Divaris Real Estate (www.divaris.com), the broker that represented the seller, Terry/Peterson Investment Thirty, in the transaction.

Solutions Spotlight

To support consumers’ omnichannel shopping behaviors, product information, inventory availability, and customer profile and order information must be current and available throughout the enterprise to enable real-time visibility. In this white paper, you'll learn all about the new demands of a harmonized shopping experience; the new generation of network-centric information systems with access to rich information; and the perceived value of new store-level technology.

Store of the Week

Kleinfeld Hudson’s Bay, a luxurious 14,000-sq.-ft. bridal shop on the top floor of the Hudson’s Bay flagship and headquarters building in Toronto, took the top prize — Store of the Year — in the Association for Retail Environments 2015 Design Award.More...